made most, clear when not fluent 2, unchallenged after, driven out, stayed on well, eased closing stages
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 7th, ridden before 2 out, soon no chance with winner, kept on same pace
held up in last pair in touch, headway into 3rd after 8th, outpaced after 3 out, no chance with front pair from next
with winner to before 6th, in touch, modest 4th 4 out, no chance after, tailed off
held up in last pair in touch, reminders after 7th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out
in touch, chased winner before 6th until after next, driven before 8th, 5th and held when mistake and unseated rider 4 out
ISAACSTOWN LAD (NAP) completed a double in Class 4 handicaps last May and repeated the process a grade higher at the end of last year. His last two runs have been in better races than this and though he's 9lb higher than his last winning mark he can get back to winning ways. Pistol completed a double in heavy ground here last month including at this level on his latest start but he's never convinced when stepped up to this sort of trip in the past. The last time Gevrey Chambertin raced at this level he gained a very convincing victory at Lingfield though that was over 2m3f. Cloudy Copper, who looked a promising hurdler a couple of years ago, has been inconsistent over fences this season and on a high enough mark while it's over two years since the staying chaser Knock A Hand last ran over timber.
Gevrey Chambertin (FR) 25-1 (11-3) Soon tracking leaders, challenged 4th, weakened before 2 out, 9th of 17, 36 1/4l behind Arpege D'alene (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) sft in Feb.
Isaacstown Lad (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders on outside after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd after last, no impression, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Mr Moonshine (11-6) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Cloudy Copper (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, chased leaders 16th, outpaced 5 out, soon ridden, went 2nd 3 out, weakened before last, 5th of 8, 35l behind Silvergrove (11-7) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Knock A Hand (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) In rear, struggling 4th, behind 7th, pulled up after 11th, at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Spanish Fleet 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 10 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 6, 29l behind Special Catch (11-3) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Pistol (IRE) 11-4 (10-6) Made all, ridden after 3 out, hard pressed between last 2, joined last, held on gamely flat, won at Carlisle 2m 3f hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Maxie T (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
